Military History

John is listed as being killed in action on 23rd October 1918. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entries for the period 22nd to 24th October are transcribed below.

Honnechy – 22/10/1918: In the evening of this day the Battalion, which had been attached to the 7th Brigade for the attack on the Richemont line, moved up to its forming up position along the Railway in R.2.c&d

Pommereuil – 23/10/1918: The attack commenced at 01.20 hours the Battalion moving in rear of the 9 Devons and the Battlalion was to be used to help to mop up Pommereuil if necessary or if this necessity did not arise to pass through the 7^th Brigade and carry the intermediate objective which was the road on L.22 a&d.

Owing to heavy fog the attacking units of the first wave became rather mixed up and the situation was for some time obscure but on Captain Mortimore MC (who was commanding the Battalion at this time) going out and taking command of troops of all units and organising attacks on the enemy M.G. nests which had been missed by the first wave owing to the fog, the situation rapidly cleared and all objectives were gained.

Flaguet Brifant – 24/10/1918: The 7^th Brigade continued the attack through Bois L’Eveque and the Battalion was ordered to concentrate in the vicinity of Flaguet Brifant in L.15.d. This move was completed by 10.53 hours and the Battalion remained here until units of the 7^th Brigade passed through our line whereupon the unit marched out to Billets in Pommereuil.

Casualties during the tour: Killed 13 Other Ranks, Missing 5 Other Ranks, Wounded Officers 3, O.R. 40.